The Kennedy outreach, made through intermediaries, follows a meeting in Milwaukee last month between Kennedy and Republican nominee Donald Trump to discuss a similar policy role and endorsement that resulted in no agreement. In those discussions, Kennedy spoke about advising Trump in a second term on health and medical issues.

Kennedy said he hopes Harris reconsiders his offer of a meeting. "I think it is a strategic mistake for them. That's my perspective," Kennedy said. "I think they ought to be looking at every opportunity. I think it is going to be a very close race."

To rephrase the old joke, Kennedy has already established that he's a prostitute. Now the only negotiations are over what remuneration he should receive - or what job he'll take - to sell out his supporters.